Popular Water Street  bar faces a license suspension over increasing number of bar fights

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A popular bar on Water Street may have to close down temporarily.

Brothers Bar and Grill faces a 20-day license suspension after concerns about numerous fights outside the bar.

At Milwaukee’s Common Council’s Licenses Committee meeting, committee members reviewed five incidents that happened outside Brothers Bar and Grill on Water Street. In each incident, Milwaukee Police had to be called.

“We don’t handle those situations. If we get in a situation like that, we let the professionals handle that,” said Brothers co-owner Marc Fortney at the meeting.

Ald. Bob Bauman of District four disagreed, stating Fortney could not rely on MPD for every incident.

“They make money by serving all these people alcohol and when they get overserved, they push them and they expect it to be the taxpayer’s problem? Milwaukee Police Department’s problem? I’m sorry, that’s a no,” Bauman told CBS 58.

From 2022 to 2024, Milwaukee Police Department records show at least 10 fights reportedly involved bar goers.

On August 9, MPD was forced to request additional squads following a fight outside the bar – one MPD officer was hit while breaking up the fight.

“People on the street like to get involved okay, on the street with other incidents,” said Fortney. He argued that all the patrons involved in the fight did not come from Brothers, but the MPD police report says otherwise.

When asked if he viewed the security footage from that night, Forntney said he had not.

Just a few days later on August 16, a patron got into an argument with staff at the bar and threw their drink at security. On December 10, three underage people refused to leave and one of them punched the manager in the stomach.

Fortney told the committee the bar has increased security and changed its policies so that security can assist MPD officers when needed. CBS 58 reached out to Brothers corporate office for comment but did not hear back.

“We’ve had that policy for over 30 years for our company, my brother and I. That we call early and we call often,” said Fortney.

Bauman says the bar has to have a handle on what happens outside their doors.

“Sure as hell is their responsibility and that’s been our position for bars and clubs for years and years,” said Bauman.

The 20-day suspension recommendation will go in front of the full common council on June 3, where council members will decide if the bar should serve a suspension and if so, for how long.